Having a family member deal with alcoholism is very stressful. It can be very hard on you not knowing what to do to help them get better or improve their lives again. When they are so badly addicted, it seems like the only idea is to forget about them or force them into rehabilitation, but that decision also needs to be theirs. With these five tips, you’ll be able to make sure you guide your family member back to ordinary life.
Keep An Open Relationship
Don’t be afraid to ask your loved one for a conversation. When the topic comes up, or even if you start asking about it, just try to have them open up to you.If they are reluctant to let you help them, give helpful advice to show that you care and are worried. You could let them know that you’re there for them to listen or guide them. If they ever decide to drink and drive, remind them of the dangers and recommend a DWI attorney, like Rosenthal and Wadas from McKinney, Texas, just in case they get into legal trouble. Just being there can make a world of difference to them.
Recommend Rehab
After you have built that relationship, make a recommendation to them that they need to recover. If they aren’t doing anything to get better, you need to help them get that “wake-up call” to get back to reality.
Seeking Intervention
In reality, you cannot make a person go straight to rehab. If they aren’t willing to give recovery a shot, consider seeking the help of a professional psychologist to help create an intervention. This could involve family and friends, or even just you and a therapist or psychologist.
Don’t Make Any Alcohol an Option
Anything that is going to steer them into wanting alcohol should be avoided. Any kind of alcohol hidden in closets or throughout the kitchen should not be made available during this process. There should be none of it within the home. This only causes your loved one to lose their minds. When they have made it a decision to recover, it’s your job to help them stop by not making any of it available.
Be Forgiving
Any addiction is hard to break, but alcoholism can be even harder to overcome. Be very forgiving and open to your loved one. If they fail, make it a safe haven for them to run to you. If you don’t make it a safe place to tell you their mistakes, they may hide it from you and relapse.
Having a loved one addicted to alcohol is tough, but it isn’t impossible to overcome. Many have beaten this addiction and your loved one can do the same with the proper guidance and support.
